Category Archives: 2018 Legislative Session

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The legislative session for 2019 is now well underway here in Connecticut, and we’re seeing a plethora of gun-related proposed bills; both progun and anti. The important thing to remember is, at this stage the legislators are basically throwing everything they can think of out there, just to see what might stick. Many proposed bills never go any further than this stage. In other words, it’s a little too soon to be fist pumping over an exceptionally good sounding bill, or to be breaking out the torches and pitchforks over an extremely bad sounding one.

That’s not to say CCDL isn’t already carefully following every single proposed bill. We are.

We’re currently tracking over 40 different proposed bills, and that number grows almost daily. Yes, we already know about the ammo tax one, and the one gun a month one, and all the others, good and bad. We’re already working with legislators on many of them.

Make sure you’re following CCDL’s blog, Facebook page, and Twitter for updates on any proposed bills that advance. Often there is very little advance notice when the time comes to call or email your legislators, or testify (in person or via email) at a public hearing. And of course, CCDL members will also get an email.

Food Drive – While CCDL collects food donations year-round, our members were especially generous during the holidays. All donations go to local churches and shelters to help feed those less fortunate than ourselves.

A press statement was made in response to a “safe storage” gun bill proposal

December

Membership Meeting December 11th

CCDL met with key legislators at the Legislative Office Building to discuss several likely bills for the 2019 Legislative session

Afterward, while taking questions from reporters, Malloy was asked about a statement CCDL had made about the new law. We said, in part: “… [the law] does absolutely NOTHING to increase public safely, and was passed solely to provide a feel-good but hollow victory to anti-Constitution, vocal minority groups like CAGV and Newtown Action Alliance. Bump fire is a technique that can be easily replicated without any aftermarket accessories at all.”
(Click HERE to read the full statement)

So, Governor Malloy thinks we’re lying when we say that the now banned bump stocks are not needed to bump fire a gun? Somebody certainly IS lying to the people of Connecticut, and it’s NOT CCDL. See the video below.

Sine Die is Latin for “without day,” meaning a final adjournment. A motion used to close an annual session of the General Assembly. It terminates all unfinished business.

On May 9, 2018 at 11:59PM the Connecticut General Assembly adjourned the 2018 legislative session. This year CCDL tracked six potential 2nd Amendment related bills. Our members spent numerous hours at a public hearing and contacting their legislators throughout this session. Thank you to all members who took the time to defend your rights here in the state. We all need to stay engaged and advocate for our rights.

Both these bills had many government champions, paid lobbyists, and anti-rights groups fighting to get them passed.

We had many CCDL supporters in the Republican Caucus trying very hard to prevent these bills from being called for a vote. While H.B. 5542 did get called and passed both the House and Senate, (we anticipate the Governor will sign it into law any day now), we have to acknowledge that these members of the Republican Caucus were instrumental with preventing the ‘ghost gun’ legislation from moving forward. They also were able to amend the bump stock bill to at least include some protections and notifications for lawful gun owners.

Many legislators defended the 2nd Amendment both in the House and Senate Chambers. If you missed the debates, you can watch the House debate or Senate debate or view the House tally and Senate tally to see how your Representative or Senator voted.

Connecticut residents now have until September 30, 2018 to render their ‘bump stock’, ‘crank device’, ‘binary trigger’ or rate of enhancement device permanently inoperable, remove it from this state, or surrender it to Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection for destruction.

The version of H.B. 5542(pdf) An Act Concerning Bump Stocks and Rate of Fire Enhancement Devices that passed, ultimately bans the sale and possession of ‘bump stocks’, ‘crank devices’ and ‘binary triggers’. The bill makes the possession of these device a class D felony effective October 1, 2018. ‘Crank devices’ could also include those used by paint ball enthusiasts. The bill did provide that permit holders would be charged with a class D misdemeanor for the first offense and class D felony for any subsequent offense between October 1, 2018 and July 1, 2019. After, July 1, 2019 possession and sales of these devices will be a class D felony. The law gives the courts some discretion if the court finds that a violation is not of a serious nature and that the person charged will probably not offend in the future. It also provides a 90-day grace period for persons who moves into the state. There is no grandfather clause, nor will there be any compensation for the loss of your legally purchased property.

Once again, CCDL would like to point out that the law that did pass does absolutely NOTHING to increase public safely, and was passed solely to provide a feel-good but hollow victory to anti-Constitution, vocal minority groups like CAGV and Newtown Action Alliance. Bump fire is a technique that can be easily replicated without any aftermarket accessories at all. Also, these devices are currently not regulated in the vast majority of other states, or at the federal level. Meaning any criminal actually intent on still obtaining one of these so-called ‘Rate of Fire Enhancement Devices’, can purchase one as easily as a gallon of milk almost anywhere else in the USA.

CCDL holds its monthly general membership meeting at 7:00pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Elks Lodge in Middletown, CT. Our next meeting is May 8th. All CCDL members are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Avoid the wait and shipping fees! The full selection of CCDL merchandise is always for sale at our meetings, including many items not sold on our website.

GOP Convention Endorsements

The Connecticut Citizens Defense League Executive Committee last week announced a list of endorsed and preferred candidates ahead of the May 2018 GOP convention. This is to advise convention delegates which candidates we feel are strongest on issues CCDL cares about.
CCDL will revisit candidate endorsements after the May conventions.

As of this email, the ‘Bumpstock Bill’ HB5542 was passed in the House by a vote of 114 to 35 and with the session winding down, there is no word on whether or not the bill will get called for a vote in the Senate. The last day of the legislative session is May 9th.

The ‘Ghost Gun Bill’ HB5540 has yet to be called in the House, and if it were to pass, it would then also need to move to the Senate for a vote.

The ‘Firearms in State Parks Bill’ HB5539 Has also yet to be called by the House. That bill would also need to be called by the senate if it were to pass.

Even though we are nearing the end of the session, a lot can happen as last-minute deals are made, but we are hoping that our pro 2A favorable legislators can run out the clock on these gun control bills.

CCDL will do our best to keep our members up to date by the minute with these last remaining days of the legislative session. For the fastest minute by minute updates, please make sure that you subscribe to our blog, Facebook page, and Twitter. Fast moving information and in-between updates usually end up there first.

CCDL Campaign Workshops for 2018

Dates are being set for at least 2 Saturdays in June. These workshops will give the education needed for 2nd Amendment supporters to actively engage in 2018 elections. Your involvement in the 2018 elections is our biggest asset to help beat gun-grabbing politicians who are intent on stripping your rights.

This is ground level hands-on action that is necessary to help keep good legislators in office, and help new ones get elected. Anti-gun forces are lined up to help gun control type candidates that will surely hurt our right to keep and bear arms. Please do not miss these workshops when they are announced. CCDL NEEDS YOU!
Topics covered will include:

Late last night the State House voted to ban bump stocks by a 114 to 35 vote. This bill still needs to pass the Senate and then be signed by the Governor before becoming law. This bill would make possessing, using, or selling a bump stock, trigger crank, and other rate of fire enhancement devices in Connecticut a Class D Felony. The House debate lasted over five hours. If your Representative is on the following list, please send them an email thanking them for their vote on H.B.5542 – AN ACT CONCERNING BUMP STOCKS, and for protecting our rights.

Legislators NEED to hear from us. They need to know how their constituents want them to vote, and need to hear your voice. This is an election year, your legislators work for you! Everyone needs to take action to preserve your freedom here in Connecticut.

A few weeks ago, the Judiciary Committee voted these bills out of the committee and are closer to being called on the House floor. To see how the committee members voted on these bills follow the links:

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Our 2nd Amendment rights are under attack once again here in Connecticut. The Connecticut General Assembly’s Judiciary Committee is voting on three important gun bills this Monday, April 2nd. We need every CCDL member to contact the legislators on the Judiciary Committee TODAY. These legislators have already heard from many trying to take our rights away, they need to hear from us.

These bills are NOT just bans on bump stocks and “ghost guns”. There are many other infringements hidden in these bills. Legislators need to know we are staying vigilant.

Ask the legislators to:OPPOSE:H.B. No. 5540 AN ACT CONCERNING GHOST GUNS AND THE PERMIT APPLICATION PROCESSOPPOSE:H.B. No. 5542 AN ACT CONCERNING BUMP STOCKS AND OTHER MEANS OF ENHANCING THE RATE OF FIRE OF A FIREARMSUPPORT:H.B. No. 5539 AN ACT CONCERNING FIREARMS IN STATE PARKS

We need members to show up in force and stay united.
REMEMBER THESE BILLS ARE NOT JUST ABOUT BUMP STOCKS AND GHOST GUNS, there is more in these bills that infringe on our rights. People who oppose our rights plan to be there in large numbers.

THIS BILL IS NOT JUST LIMITED TO BUMP STOCKS!
This bill also includes binary triggers, and anything that is constructed, manufactured, designed or intended to mechanically increase the rate of fire in ANY WAY.

THIS BILL WILL ALSO CHANGE THE TEMPORARY CARRY PERMIT PROCESS
It will allow local authorities to interview your immediate family members and parents or guardians before issuing applicants their permit.

Members are encouraged to give oral and written testimony on these bills. Speaking order will be determined by a lottery system. Lottery numbers will be drawn from 8:00 A.M. to 9:30 A.M. in Room 2500 of the LOB. Speakers arriving after the completion of the lottery will have their names placed at the end of the speaker list. Other CCDL members will be there to direct you.Please submit 50 copies of written testimony to the Committee staff no later than 9:00 A.M. in Room 2500 of the LOB. Testimony received after the designated time may not be distributed until after the hearing.

Testimony should clearly state your name and the bills you are testifying on. The Committee requests that testimony be limited to matters related to the items on the agenda. Speakers will be limited to three minutes of testimony.

If you are able attend but do NOT wish to speak or submit testimony, please come and help fill the seats with Second Amendment supporters. This hearing will likely last many hours, please consider coming even if only for a few hours.

More information
Read our Public Testimony Tip Sheet for help composing your written or in-person testimony.
Legislators would like to hear from you in your own words, but if you are stuck for ideas, here is a sample of what your testimony might look like.